A lot of folks were sad that we ran out of shirts at ZapCon so we did another run of this year's model! We’ll be selling them at Starfighters Arcade (4811 E Julep St. Ste. 124, Mesa, AZ 85205) Friday May 22nd & Saturday the 23rd, 7 - 11pm.

As a bonus buy a shirt, or show up in any ZapCon shirt, and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a 10 person, 3 hour party at Howie’s Game Shack!

We'll have size small through 3x available. First come first served. Come down and play some rad video games and grab a ZapCon 3.0 shirt while you’re here!

Some of the fondest memories from my childhood were when I or one of my friends could talk a parent into dropping us off at the nearest arcade for a few hours. We'd do our best to stretch $5 worth of tokens as far as possible. Sometimes that meant playing a game that wasn't that great, but you were really good at. Sometimes it meant spending your in between game time taking long, slow strolls up and down the aisles soaking in the lights and sounds, watching the attract modes of games you were curious about, or watching other people play in hopes of picking up a new killer technique or of seeing a level or mode you haven't been able to get to. Sometimes it meant spending a ridiculous amount of time waiting in line to play the arcade's hot new game.

All of it was pure bliss, and none of it exists today as it did back then. The modern arcade has shifted focus to redemption games (ticket spitters), as they can no longer compete with the home console market. All but one of the old guard pinball manufacturers have disappeared. There are precious few places to play the classics and even fewer where one can get the "classic arcade" experience.

That is why we have created Zapcon. We want to relive the joy of going to the arcade, and to share that joy with younger generations who couldn't experience it first hand. We want to give collectors and restorationists a chance to show off their wares and to buy, sell, or trade with other like minded enthusiasts. Most of all we want Zapcon to become an annual event that will promote and preserve classic arcade and pinball culture for years to come.